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Flash Drive With Swivel Cover

a technology of flash drives and swivel covers, which is applied in the direction of electrical apparatus casings/cabinets/drawers, coupling device connections, instruments, etc., can solve the problems that embodiments would not share the benefits of substantially semi-cylindrical structures and the benefits of midpoint locations, so as to facilitate the manufacturing of swivel covers and minimize material costs , the effect of minimal length

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-09-29
SUPER TALENT TECH CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention is directed to a swivel-type portable flash device (apparatus) including a flash memory device (and / or other electronic devices) mounted in a housing between upper and lower housing walls, a plug connector (e.g., a USB plug connector) that is electrically connected to the memory device and extends from a front wall portion of the housing, and a substantially C-shaped swivel cover having upper and lower cover walls that are integrally connected by an end wall. The upper and lower cover walls are respectively pivotably attached to the upper and lower housing walls such that the swivel cover is permanently connected to the housing and is manually rotatable in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to the housing between a first position, in which portions of the upper cover wall and the lower cover wall and the end wall substantially enclose the plug connector, and a second position in which the plug connector is operably exposed for insertion in a host system. By permanently connecting the swivel cover to the housing in this manner, the present invention provides a portable flash device that avoids the cap-loss problem associated with devices having caps that are separated during operation.
[0011]In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, outward-facing recessed ring-shaped grooves are respectively formed on the outside surfaces of the upper and lower housing walls, inward-facing ring-shaped protrusions are respectively formed on the inside edge of circular holes and extend perpendicular to the inside surfaces of the upper and lower cover walls, and the swivel cover is permanently rotatably connected to the housing such that the ring-shaped protrusions are respectively movably engaged in the recessed ring-shaped grooves. Attaching the swivel cover to the housing in this manner provides an advantage over conventional swivel-cover devices in that the ring-shaped protrusions greatly increase the structural integrity of the swivel cover by serving as strengthening flanges that resist breakage of the upper and lower cover walls at the circular opening, thereby significantly increasing the expected operating life of the flash device over conventional approaches that utilized flat cover walls. In addition, by disposing the ring-shaped protrusions such that they extend toward the housing and are received in the recessed ring-shaped grooves, the swivel cover can be reliably secured to the housing without the need for a hinge protuberance or other structure that extends above / below the outside surfaces of the upper / lower cover walls, thereby providing a sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing flash device.
[0012]In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the recessed ring-shaped grooves are located approximately midway between a rear wall portion of the housing and a front edge of the plug connector, whereby when the swivel cover is in the closed position, the end wall of the swivel cover is spaced from the front edge of the plug connector by a minimal offset distance (e.g., 0.25 inches or less, so long as it provides a clearance that is not blocking the rotation path of the swivel cover), and when the swivel cover is manually rotated 180° from the closed position, the end wall of the swivel cover is spaced from the rear wall portion by approximately the same minimal offset distance (e.g., 0.25 inches or less). Locating the recessed ring-shaped grooves in this manner facilitates manufacturing the swivel cover with a minimal length, thus minimizing material costs, and this approach also minimizes the overall length of the flash device when the swivel cover is rotated 180° from the closed position. In alternative embodiments, the recessed ring-shaped grooves may be located anywhere along the length of the housing, but such alternative embodiments would not share the benefits of the midpoint location.

Problems solved by technology

In alternative embodiments, the recessed ring-shaped grooves may be located anywhere along the length of the housing, but such alternative embodiments would not share the benefits of the midpoint location.
In alternative embodiments, the end wall may have a rectangular or other angled shape, but such alternative embodiments would not share the benefits of the substantially semi-cylindrical structure.

Method used

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  • Flash Drive With Swivel Cover
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  • Flash Drive With Swivel Cover

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0038]The present invention relates to an improvement in flash memory devices such as USB flash drives. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention as provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. As used herein, directional terms such as “upper”, “upwards”, “lower”, “downward”, “front”, “rear”, are intended to provide relative positions for purposes of description, and are not intended to designate an absolute frame of reference. In addition, the phrases “integrally connected” and “integrally molded” is used herein to describe the connective relationship between two portions of a single molded or machined structure, and are distinguished from the terms “connected” or “coupled” (without the modifier “integrally”), which indicates two separate structures that are joined by way of, for example, adhesive, fastener, clip, or movable joint. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment wil...

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Abstract

A swivel-type portable flash device includes a C-shaped swivel cover that rotates (swivels) relative to a housing between an open position in which a plug connector is exposed for insertion in a host system, and a closed position in which the plug connector is covered and protected by the swivel cover. The swivel cover is permanently rotatably connected to the housing by way of ring-shaped protrusions that are movably engaged inside corresponding recessed ring-shaped grooves formed in upper / lower walls of the housing, whereby the swivel cover is manually rotatable relative to the housing between the opened and closed positions. The swivel cover also includes locking structures (e.g., locking notches) disposed on the ring-shaped protrusions, and the housing includes second locking structures disposed in the recessed ring-shaped grooves, where the first locking structures operably engage the second locking structures to prevent rotation of the swivel cover when the plug connector is in the closed position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application for “Universal Serial Bus (USB) Flash Drive Having Locking Pins and Locking Grooves for Locking Swivel Cap”, Ser. No. 11 / 929,857, filed Oct. 30, 2007.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to the field of portable flash drives and particularly to portable drives with swivel caps and methods for manufacturing thereof.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Universal serial bus (USB) flash drives represent one type of portable flash devices that are available in various shapes and forms. Conventional pen-type USB flash drives typically include a flash memory device and a controller that are disposed in a protective housing, and are operably connected to a USB plug connector that extends from a front end of the housing. Conventional pen-type USB flash drives typically include a removable cap (cover) that ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H01R13/447
CPCG06K19/07732H05K5/0278G07C9/00087G07C9/257
Inventor NI, JIM CHIN-NANMA, ABRAHAM C.
Owner SUPER TALENT TECH CORP
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